On paper it was a big step up for Ramirez. But Abraham didn’t put up a whole lot of fight in his first appearance in Las Vegas. It was a victory of youth over experience. Ramirez showed great improvement in his skills. Abraham’s face showed the punishment dished out by Ramirez. It was a fine performance in a division getting more interesting every day.

Featherweight Oscar Valdez Jr. of Mexico (19-0, 17 KOs) remained undefeated, scoring a wicked TKO win over the tough Evgeny Gradovich of Russia (21-2-1, 9 KOs). Valdez was dishing out plenty of damage to Gradovich before he dropped him to the canvas twice in the fourth round. Gradovich, the “Mexican Russian,” beat the first count, but referee Russell Mora waived off the count when Gradovich fell the second time, stopping the fight at 2:14 of round 4. Valdez now holds the NABO Featherweight title. “It just wasn’t our night,” said Gradovich’s trainer, Robert Garcia.

“It felt great,” said Valdez after the fight. “Once the fights get tougher, I have to increase myself. I’ve evolved since my first fight.” Does Valdez think he is ready for the likes of top level competition like Vasyl Lomachenko? “He has a belt, and I think he’s proven he’s up there as a world champion. He earned his spot. I think I earned my spot,” said Valdez. Valdez landed 109 of 295 punches (37 percent); Gradovich just 28 of 220 punches (13 percent); Valdez landed 45 percent of his power shots.

Lightweight Mexican-American Jose Ramirez of California (17-0, 12 KOs), did battle against a determined Manny Perez of Denver, Colorado (25-12-1, 6 KOs). Ramirez brought a lot of fight to Perez, but Perez never backed down for a second and took the fight through all ten rounds to a decision. All three judges scored it for the former Olympian Ramirez, 97-93. 98-92, and 99-91. Perez took a lot of punishment courtesy of Ramirez’s left hook, but you have to admire his determination. Raminrez put valuable rounds in the bank toward the development of his career. Ramirez landed 278 of 751 punches thrown (37 percent); Perez landed 202 of 677 punches (30 percent). Ramirez landed 207 power punches (46 percent), Perez 170 power punches (38 percent).

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.

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Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, MS, APR, is President of the Falcon Valley Group, a San Diego based communications consulting firm. Falkenthal is a veteran award winning broadcast and print journalist, editor, producer, talk host and commentator. She is an instructor at National University in San Diego, and previously taught in the School of Journalism & Media Studies at San Diego State University.